Light quality, oxygenic photosynthesis and more.

• Oxygenic photosynthesis takes place in thylakoid membranes (TM) of cyanobacteria, algae, and higher plants. Itbegins with light absorption by pigments in large (modular) assemblies of pigment-binding proteins, which thentransfer excitation energy to the photosynthetic reaction centers of photosystem (PS) I and PSII. In green algaeand plants, these light-harvesting protein complexes contain chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids (Cars). However,cyanobacteria, red algae, and glaucophytes contain, in addition, phycobiliproteins in phycobilisomes that are attachedto the stromal surface of TM, and transfer excitation energy to the reaction centers via the Chl a molecules in the innerantenna of PSI and PSII. The color and the intensity of the light to which these photosynthetic organisms are exposedin their environment have a great influence on the composition and the structure of the light-harvesting complexes(the antenna) as well as the rest of the photosynthetic apparatus, thus affecting the photosynthetic process and even theentire organism. We present here a perspective on ‘Light Quality and Oxygenic Photosynthesis’, in memory of GeorgeChristos Papageorgiou (9 May 1933–21 November 2020; see notes a and b). Our review includes (1) the influence ofthe solar spectrum on the antenna composition, and the special significance of Chl a; (2) the effects of light quality onphotosynthesis, measured using Chl a fluorescence; and (3) the importance of light quality, intensity, and its durationfor the optimal growth of photosynthetic organisms.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Botanik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Botany (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

light

photosynthesis

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